SEAN DYCHE failed in an eleventh hour bid to retain the services of Frank McParland before he clinched a move to Rangers.

The 56-year-old has been appointed as Head of Recruitment at Ibrox after stepping down from his position of Sporting Director at Burnley.

McParland has been reunited with Mark Warburton and David Weir, whom he worked with and enjoyed success with at Brentford.

The appointment of the former Liverpool youth chief is a significant coup for Rangers as Warburton continues to make his mark on and off the park.

And Clarets boss Dyche is disappointed he has lost McParland just months after he joined the club to play his part in their push for the Premier League.

Dyche said: “I am sad to lose Frank because he has done very well for us. As a person I get on very well with him too and respect the job he does.

“I was chatting to him just this morning and still thinking that he might be with us, but his decision was pretty much made.

“It was always in the back of my mind that he had a really good relationship with Mark Warburton and David Weir, as do I, and maybe the difference is they went up to Rangers and have got off to an absoluter flyer.

“We all know when that happens, it gives you a better chance of developing the club.

“Most clubs, when you go in, want you to win on the pitch and when that starts, people build a bit of belief in you and you can restructure.

“I was afforded the time to do that here and Mark has done that at Rangers. Now he can begin piecing together a bigger structure.

“We all understand that Rangers is a big club that will walk that league this season, with the manager and team they have.

“Maybe there’s a bit of a challenge, but ultimately it’s that personal connection and we thank him for his efforts.

“He has worked very hard for us and done some good bits of business for us, so we wish him well, even though I would have liked him to stay a bit longer.”